Gezicht op Killisnoo Island, Alaska before 1890

This photograph of Killisnoo Island, Alaska, was taken by William Henry Partridge in the late 19th or early 20th century. It offers a glimpse into a landscape undergoing rapid transformation due to the burgeoning fish industry. The image exists within the context of American expansionism and industrialization, reflecting a period when Alaska's resources were being aggressively exploited. This economic activity was reshaping Indigenous territories and ways of life. Killisnoo Island, also known as Angoon, is the traditional home of the Tlingit people. The island became the site of intense commercial fishing and canning operations, dramatically altering its ecology and social structure. The Tlingit were relegated to the margins of this new economy, their traditional fishing practices disrupted. While the photograph seems to capture a serene landscape, it subtly speaks to themes of cultural disruption, environmental change, and the complex relationship between industry and Indigenous communities.